Packing case



G, W. BOH

PACKING CASE Jan. 18, 1938.

3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 16, 1936 INVENTOR fier/[ge Wa BY n .a

` ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1938. G. w. BoH

PACKING CASE Filed July 1e, 195e 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR gear e il? bi1/f,`

yATTO R N EY Jan. 18, 1938,. G. W. BOH

PACKING CASE Filed July 16, 1936 's sheets-sheet s ATTORNEY Patented Jan.18,1938 A e x UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKING CASE George .W. Boh, Chattanooga, Tenn. y Application July 16, 1936, Serial No. 90,827

r claims. (ci. 229-23) This invention relates to packing cases and teriorfaces of the paperboard end, side, bottom more particularly to an improved case or crate yfor and top panels are smooth and even, and the packing, shipping and storing fruits and vegepacking case can be used without liners, guards. tables. f or other means to protect the contents against 5 According to the present invention, the case is abrasion or injury from contact with the wallsof 5 formed from one or more blanks of relatively the case, as is necessary where wooden packing stiff, strong and tough paperboard or breboard boxes or crates are used. My improved packing material, comprising end wall panels, front and case is admirably adapted as al packing medium rear wall panels and top and bottom panels formfor delicate fruit and. vegetables such as peaches,

ing the kbottom and the cover of the case retomatoes, apples, and citrus fruits, which maybe l0 spectively. The end wall panels may be provided easily injured and damaged during packing, shipwith relatively rigid reinforcing frames of Wood ment or storage.` or metal. The top and bottom panels may .be The paperboard or breboard forming the hingedly connected to the opposite side wall panpacking case may be suitably treated with a filler l5 els and cooperate with the end frame and end and waterproong material before assembly, so l wall panels when closed to provide a rigid strucas to resist moisture which might `otherwise weakture. One or more reinforcing cleats may ber aten the c'a'se or injure the contents. fThe reinforctached to the side wall panels to give additional ing cleats associated with the end wall and side longitudinal rigidity to the case. Y wall panels may be so constructed as to raise the The side wall panels are preferably connected paperboard material out of contact with wet or ,O to the end wall panels in such a manner that'the damp floors and to permit the free circulation of packing case kmay be collapsed in a relatively flat -air between and around the stacked packing cases. Condition OI Shipmeilt and Storage. A consid- The reinforcing cleatsv also provide skids which arable saving in shipping and Storage costs is permit the case to be lpushed along the floors of thus effected. When fruits or vegetables are to the packing house or transporting conveyances 25 be packed in the Case, the packer ereets the end without injury to the case. If desired, the side Wall panels and the front er' i rear side wall panand end wel] panels may be provided with suit.. els into rectangular form. The top panel is then able spaced openings to permit the free circulaswung into closed position and the case inverted tion of authrough the wang,

so that the top panel rests upon a suitable supvVarious other features and advantages of the 30 porting platformwith the end wall panels and invention Wiii be apparent, from the fouewng iront and rear side wall panels resting upon the particular description and from an inspection of op wall panel. A layer of selected fruit or Vegethe accompanying drawings.

tables is then carefully packed within the case Although the novel features which are believed so as to rest upon the inside face of the top wall to be characteristic of this invention Wm be par 35 panel, following which the remainder of the fruits ticuiariy pointed out in the claims appended here or Vegetables may be dumped or poured mt'o to, the invention itself, as to its objects and adthe case so as to iill the same. When the case vantages and the manneriin which it maybe has thus been ued the bottom panel swung carried out may be better understood by refer- 40 into 'closed position and is permanently secured ring to the Illowmg description taken m com 40 in closed positionby means of suitable securing nectio with the acompanymgdrawmgs forming means, such as nails, screws, staples, or the like. a art thereof in which r When the bottom panel has been firmly secured in- 1 i la View' of a blnk Suitable for posit-ion, the case with the fruit or vegetables f 1g;- Sa' i n ordanc ich the packed therein is then reinverted so that the con- ,Crm Eg 9j pac ng case m acc ew tents will rest upon andv be supported by the botml'filgl nljs an enlarged fragmentary cross-Sectom panel. The cover panel can then be lifted tional View of the blank Showing the fomation and. the top layer of fruit or vegetables given a c final inspection, following which the cover panel 0f the Scoring 0f the blank this VeW being taken along line 2 1v of Fig. 1; o

is secured in closed position. 5

The improved peeking case herein disclosed F1a 3 1S a perspective view 0f the blank used een be inexpensively manufactured and asin forming the end wall panel of the container; scmbled. The completed case is light in weight n. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing and yet strong and rigid and providesamplesupa partially formed packing` case with one of the port and protection for the contents. The inside wall panels attached to the end wall panel 55 and the other side wall panel in position to be assembled with the end walls;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the packing case set up and the contents assembled therein;

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the case being packed while in mounted position;

Fig, 7 is a perspective view showing the packing case completely packed and closed;

Fig 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the corner of thel packing case showing a modified constructional detail;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of container adapted to be collapsed for shipment;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the container shown ln Fig. 9 in partially folded condition; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank suitable for forming the container shown in Figs. 9 Yand 10.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4 there is shown a partially assembled packing case including a plurality ofblanks I, 2 having panels adapted to form side walls. covers and end walls. Preferablythe blanks lare similar but reversely and inversely positioned.

Referring to Fig. 1v theblank I may be formed fromv suitable sheet material such as flbreboard, paperboard or other similar material of sufficient rigidity to be shape-sustaining but which .may be made flexible in a convenient manner as by scoring. "I'he blank I is divided by a score line 'I into a side wall panel 5 and a cover panel 5. Extending from the ends of the side wall panel 5 are side wall Vflaps, I which are bendable about score lines 9. Extending from end walls of the cover panel 5 are cover flaps III which are `bendable about score lines II, preferably aligned with score lines 9. Extending from the free edge ofthe cover panel 5 is a side cover flap I2 bendable about a score line I3. Covertabs Ilr extend frog/i, the ends of the sidecover flap `I2 and are bendable about score lines I5 preferably aligned with score lines!) and II.A y

vThe score lines may be formed in various ways in order to provide lines of increased flexibility, or if desired, other ways of obtaining lines of increased flexibility may be substituted. Preferably the various score lines are formed as shown more in detail in Fig. 2. For example, the score line 'I includes angular portions ISand I'I `and the offset portion I8 displaced from the plane of the ad-` jacent material. Thistype of scoring permits repeated bending of the blank along the score line without destroying or unduly weakening the material, and also servesto reinforce and stiffen the edge formed when the adjacent portions of the blank are bent in angular relation about the score line'.v 'l Y i Where it is desired to provide ventilation for the packing case, as for example, where itis to be used for packing fruits. vegetables or other perishable commodities', suitably spaced and shapedperforations 20 may be'provided in suitable portions of the blank. In the present instance the perforations 20 are 'formed in the side wall panel of the blank.

The end walls 2 preferably are similarly formed and each includes a rectangular panel 25 of sheet material which may be formed of the same material as that used in forming the blank I.

The panel 25 is suitably secured to an end 'frame which may be formed from a plurality of cleats 26 suitably secured at their ends as by a rabbeted joint 21. The cleats 20 may be of any suitably rigid material and preferably are formed of wood. The panel 25 may be suitably secured to the end frame as by staples 28 or other fastening members.

The packing case may be assembled by attaching the side wall end flaps 8 to the vertical cleats 25 of the end frames respectively, one of the blanks I being attached so that the hingedly attached cover panel 6 is adapted to overlie the tcp edges of the end walls 2, and the other of the blanks I being attached tothe opposite other vertical cleats 26 so that the corresponding hingedly attached cover panel 5 cooperates with the lower horizontal cleats 26 and lower edge of `the first side wall panel 6.

Where the packing case is to be employed in packaging articles such as fruit, vegetables or the like, it is generally desirable to reinforce the case longitudinally in order to make it sumciently rigid to withstand the shocks incident to handling and shipping and to prevent the side walls from bowing and thereby preventing displacement of or damage to the contents. The side walls preferably are reinforced by longitudinal cleat 34 secured to the free edge of each side wallpanel 5 and a second longitudinal cleat 25 secured to the edge of the sidewall panel adjacent the score line l. The cleats Il and I5 preferably are secured to the side wall panels 5, as by stapling (not shown) or any other suitable manner and also may be secured to the end frames as by nails 3B, screws or the like, thereby to provide a rigid, reinforced case.

Preferably the `cover flanges I0 and I2 are bent about the score lines II and I3 respectively and the tongues I4 bent about the score lines I5 and secured to the cover panelend flanges Il in a suitable manner as by staples 30, This provides a continuous, upstanding flange extending around the free edges of the cover which, when the cover is in closed position telescopes over the adjacent edges of the side and end `Walls and serves to retain the cover in proper position. 'Ihefiange alsoserves as a convenient means for permanently fastening the cover in closed position.

The packing case may be packed as follows: The top cover t is closed and the case is inverted and disposed on a suitable supporting surface,the side and end walls resting upon the top cover t. The contents may be disposed in the case in any desired manner, but preferably the lowermost layer is disposed neatly and evenly in predetermined planar arrangement on the inner face of the top cover t (lower cover in Fig. 7). The succeeding layers may be either arranged in a predetermined manner ordumped or poured'in on top of the first layer. completely filled, the bottom cover 5 (upper cover in Fig. 7) is closed andl may be secured in position by suitable fastening means such as nails 31, screws, staples or the like.l The case is then inverted and the top cover t, which then becomes the upper cover, may be raised in order to inspect the contents to ascertain if the top layer is arranged in the desired manner. Also, any of the articles of the top layer which may be damaged or which are unattractive in appearance may be removed and replaced. The case may then be completely closed by securing the top cover t as by nails, screws or the like.

If desired, the free edge of the side wall panel 5 may be formed with a score or bead 2 I in order to cushion the contents adjacent the edge of the f side wall and prevent crushing or bruising of After the case has beenk the top and bottom edges of the side wall panels extend to a point flush with orl higher thanthe edges of the cleats 34 and 35 and the top and bottom edges of the end Wall blanks 25 extending beyond the corresponding edges of the cleats 26. This prevents the contents from being bruised by the edges of the cleats during packing. Y

Further protection to the contents may be provided by forming the end wall panels 25 with integral extensions 40 adapted to extend across the edge and face of each horizontal endcleat 26. The end wall panel 25 may be secured to the cleat by staples 42 extending through theextension 40and cleat 26 from the outside of the case. In an analogous manner the'side wall panel may have an extension 43 adapted to pass over the edge and faces of each cleat 34 and to be secured thereto by staples 45 passing through the extension 43 and the cleat 34 from the outside. By this construction not only are the sharp corners ofthe cleats covered, but in addition, the staples or other securing members which may be used do not project through the inner wall surfaces of the case and the inside wall surfaces therefore are completely smooth.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and l0 there is shown a slightly modified packingcase, which is constructed generally along the lines of the case thus far described but which is adapted to be folded into collapsed condition for convenient shipment to the place where it is to be packed. The packing case shown in Figs. 9 and 10 preferably includes a plurality of blanks |0| each having a side wall panel |05 with side wall end flanges |08 extending therefrom and bendable about score lines |09. Integrally and flexibly attached to side wall panel |05 along a score line |01 is a cover panel |06 having end flanges ||0 bendable about score lines and a side ilange ||2 bendable about score line H3.

The end Walls |02 include blanks |25, forming end wall panels and secured to end frames formed by suitably connected cleats |26.

'Ihe blanks |0| are secured as by staples |29 to the vertical cleats |26 of the end frames in the manner above described thereby to form a substantially tubular structure including the side walls and end walls. The covers are integrally and flexibly attached to opposite edges of the side wall panels, as described in connection with the packing case shown in Fig. 5.

A cleat |34 is attached to the free edge of each side wall panel |05, as by staples |36 and a cleat |35 is attached adjacent the score line |03 as by staples |36. The cleats |34 and |35 preferably extend across the edges of the end frames, however, the cleats |34 and |35 are unconnected to the side wall panel |05 over a zone |5| which is slightly greater'in width than the thickness of the adjacent end frame. 'Ihe zone |5| is dened by a score line |09 and by a second score line |50 which permits the side wall panel |05 to bend around the end of the end frame when the packing case is collapsed. Since the cleats |34 and |35 are not connected to the side wall panel |05 over the zone |5|, the zone can be bent away from the cleats. 'I'he cover panel |06 is provided with a slot |53 extending inwardly from the end edge to a point adjacent the score line |50 thus permitting the zone |5| to move away from the cover panel for the folding movement. 'Ihe other side wall panel |06 is similarly formed with a zone |5| and score line |50 at the opposite end of the packing case and the other cleats 34 and |35 are likewise unconnected over this zone, V

' The packing case may be folded by forcing the side walls laterally toward each othery so that the end walls bend aboutthe score lines |52, zone |5| bending around the vertical edges of the end walls. The end'walls bend inwardly about score lines |00 and permit the tubular portion of the case to be collapsed,` the covers extending laterally `from the collapsedportion. Howevenif it is desired to fold. the casel into a more compact form, each cover`panel"|06 may-be provided with a score line |54'pa`rallel to and spaced from the score line |0`|a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the cleat |35. This permits'the cover panel |06 to be folded backwardly over the cleat |35y and to lie across the cleats |35 and |34 in proximity tothe side wall panel |05.

It will be noted that the side walls, end ywalls and covers are constituted principally by paperboard, nbre-board orI like material hence the case is relatively economical to construct and may be made vrelatively light in weight. Furthermore the inner wallsare smooth and there is no likelihood of the contents being cut or bruised when in the case. It is therefore unnecessary to provide any' additional protective members such as a liner, guard or the like.

The blanks may be formed of various suitable material and if desired this material may be relativelyl soft and resilient and thus provide a cushioning -eiect for the contents. Preferably the blanks are of single ply material, but in certain instances they may be formed from laxninations certain of which may be relatively hard and stiff to provide sufllcient rigidity and others which may be relatively soft and resilient to cushion the contents.

'I'he blanks may be suitably waterproofed as by the application of a suitable coating or filler and thereby provide a substantially moistureproof case which will prevent the contents from being wet by the entrance of moisture from the outside and also which will prevent wetting of other cases or containers in the event that the contents ink one of the cases should become crushed or damaged. The case may be disposed on its side and the longitudinal cleats support the paperboard wall out of contact with any moisture which may be on the floor of the building or vehicle in which the case is located.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing'from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foldable packing case including side and end Walls formed of paperboard material and flexibly joined at adjacent edges to permit said jwalls to be folded, rigid frames reinforcing said end walls, reinforcing cleats extending along said side walls.' and means attaching said reinforcing cleats to said side walls, said cleats being unconnected to said side walls over an end zone approxim'ately equal to the thickness of the end frames to permit said zones to be bent out oi the plane of said side walls, when said walled structure is folded.

2. A foldable packing case including side and end walls formed of paperboard material and flexibly joined at adjacent edges to form a tubular structure and to permit said walls to be folded, rigid frames reinforcing said end walls,

reinforcing cleats extending along said side Walls and across the edges of said en d walls, and means attaching said reinforcing cleats to said side walls, said cleats being unconnected to said side walls over an end zone approximately equal to the thickness of the endframes to permit said zones to be bent out of the plane of said side walls,

when'said tubular structure is folded.

, 3*. A packing case for fruits and vegetables including relatively rigid' end walls, side wall panels extending' between saldend walls; flaps extending from the ends of said side wall panels, means attaching said naps to the outer faces of said end Walls, vertical fold lines at the junctions of said side walls andsaid flaps and substantially within the planes of the outer faces of said end walls when said packing case is set up, thereby permitting said side and end walls to be folded into flat condition, and a vertical fold line extending along cach of said side walls, parallel to one of said first named score lines and spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the width of the adjacent end wall for permitting said side wall material to bend around thelvertical edge of said sidewall when said walls are folded 4,. A packing case for fruits and vegetables including relatively rigid end walls, side walls'extending between and hingedly connected to said end walls, vertical fold lines extending along said sidewalls substantially within the plane of the outer faces of said end'walls, when said packing case is set up thereby permitting said walls to be folded, a vertical fold line extending along each of said side walls parallel to one of said flrst named fold lines and spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the width of the adjacent end wall to dene a vertical panel for permitting said side wall material to bend around the vertical edge of said sidewall, reinforcing members 4extending along said side walls, and across the edges of said end walls, and means attaching said reinforcing members to said side walls, except at saidvertical panel.

5. A blank for forming a. folding packing case comprising a side wall panel, a cover panel integrally and flexibly connected to aside edge of said side wall panel along a fold line, an end flap integrally and flexibly connected to an end edge of said side wall panel along a second fold line aligned with the corresponding end edge of said cover panel, a third fold line in said side wall panely extending parallel to said second-named fold line from said first-named fold line to the opposite side edge of said side wall panel and a slot extending from the juncture of said rst and third fold lines to the adjacent end edge of said side wall panel, said slot permitting the section of said side wallpanel between said second and third named fold lines to be bent out of the plane of the remainder of the side wall panel.

GEORGE W. BOH. 

